Organizers in Saudi Arabia have launched a special ticket for an upcoming match that could see longtime rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi face off in the Middle East.
Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Ronaldo will face star-studded players Al Nassr and Al Hilal in a friendly in Riyadh on January 19. Ronaldo, who played for Al Nassr earlier this month, could make his Saudi debut in that campaign. game.
The Portuguese superstar, who is expected to earn $200 million a year during his two-and-a-half year stay in Saudi Arabia (until June 2025), is subject to a carryover suspension from the FA.
Look at Messi, Mbappe, Neymar To be on the pitch with Ronaldo is an honor in itself. However, organizers of the charity match are going a step further, creating a night to remember for fans with deep pockets.
As Turki Al-Sheikh, owner of UD Almeria and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), pointed out, a special “beyond imagination” ticket has gone on sale that could make for a night to remember for fans.
The special ticket will allow its holder to attend the opening ceremony, sit next to Al-Sheikh and meet Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, according to the Khaleej Times. Additionally, they will be allowed access to two locker rooms, attend the coronation ceremony, attend a celebratory lunch and take photos with the winning team.
Bids for tickets were set at €250,000 (SR985,000), but have climbed to €700,000 (SR2.7 million) after receiving 1.5 million requests. The tender will run until 11:30pm Saudi Arabian time on January 17. The proceedings will be donated to a charitable foundation called Ehsan.
Ronaldo’s Al Nasr coach Rudi Garcia unhappy with timing of friendly against Messi’s PSG
Al Nassr boss Rudi Garcia has questioned the timing of the upcoming friendly against PSG. Garcia conceded that organizers should have given more thought to the schedule, with Al Nasr due to play in the Saudi Pro League three days after the friendly.
Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabia debut will come in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain and Lionel Messi, Al-Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia has confirmed.
🚨 Al-Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in Saudi Arabia will take place in a friendly against PSG and Leo Messi. (source: @Sky Sports) https://t.co/s3zeUDM5bv
“As Al Nassr’s coach, I’m not happy with the game. For the development, to see PSG, to see the great Parisian players, it’s really good. But in three days we have a championship game,” Garcia said (via ESPN]).
He continued:
“In terms of the schedule, it could have been better thought out. But it’s no big deal … We’re in the lead; we’re happy. It’s going to be hard to win the title, but we’re going to do it.”
Ronaldo is currently on domestic suspension for removing his phone from Everton Garcia confirmed that fans’ hands will be available for friendly matches in April 2022.
“It (his debut) will not be wearing an Al Nassr jersey. It will be a mix of Al Hilal and Al Nassr.”
Messi’s arch-nemesis will miss Saturday’s (January 14) game against Al Shabaab but will be in the squad against Etifak eight days later.
